Trace Adkins

Tracy Darrell Adkins was born and raised in a small town in Louisiana. Adkins' father Aaron taught him to play guitar as a child, and in high school, the future country star was a member of a gospel group that recorded two albums and toured locally, as well as a football player. Adkins attended college at Louisiana Tech University, studying music and playing defensive end on the college's football team, but he never officially graduated; instead, he went to work on an oil rig, before moving to Nashville in the early 1990s to pursue a music career. Adkins' first studio album, 'Dreamin' Out Loud', was released in 1996 and spawned a Top 20 single and three Top 5 singles, one of which ("(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing") hit No. 1. He was crowned Top New Male Vocalist at the 1997 ACM Awards, and in the years since, Adkins has put out more than 10 studio albums and earned more than 10 Top 10 songs. He's also appeared in several movies and TV shows, including 'Moms' Night Out' and 'King of the Hill', came in second place on 'Celebrity Apprentice' in 2008 and won 'All-Star Celebrity Apprentice' in 2013.

There are a surprising number of country artists who have been through near-death experiences. The seven country singers profiled in this video have somehow managed to escape huge tragedies: gunshot wounds, stabbings, horrifying car wrecks and more.

Country music goes with everything. Country songs make the perfect first dance songs for newly married couples, the perfect soundtrack for a bar and the perfect accompaniment to a tailgate ... and country songs are also great for a dance party.